The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-08-12

He strained her to his haart and kissed her
beautiful face again and again, and next mo-
ment jess heard the footsteps Of the return
ing sentry and saw him leave 60 OF her.
Jamie, too, caught her by the hand and
dragged hor away from the wall, and In ten
seconds more she was once more ascending
the hillside toward the Hottentot's kennel.
She had gone to find out how matters lay,
and she had, indeed, found out. To attempt
to portray the fury, the Indignation and the
thirst 70 be avenged upon the fend who had
attempted to murder her and her lover, and
had bought her dear sisters honor at the
price Of her innocent old uncles life, would
be impossible. All her WEAKNESS was forgot
ten; she was mad with what she had seen and
heard, vita the knowledge of what had been
done and what was about to be done. She
even forget her passion in it, and swore that
Muller should never marry Bessie while sho
lived to prevent it. Had she been a bad
woman she might have seen herein an oppor-
tunity, for Bessie once married to Muller.
John would be free to marry her, but the
idea never even entered her mind. What
ever Jess errors may have been, she was a
self sacrificing, honorable woman, and would
have died rather than take such an advan-
tage Presently they reached the shelter
again and crept in.
Light CANDLE" said jess.
Jantje fumbled about and finally struck
match. The bit Of candle they had been
using, however, was nearly burned out, SO
from the rubbish in the corner he produced a
box full of Sends" some Of them three or
four inches long jess, in that queer sort of
way in which trifes do strike us when the
mind 10 .
remembered that for years she had been un-
able to discover what became of the odd
pieces Of the candles used in the house. Now
the mystery was explained.
snow 60 outside and leave me. want to
think"
The Hottentot obeyed, and, seated there
upon the heap of skins, her forehead resting
on her hand and her fingers run through her
silky hair now wet with the rain, she began
to review the position. 1t was evident to her
that Frank Muller would be us good as his
word. She knew him too well to doubt it for
a moment. If Bessie did not marry him he
would murder the old man, as he had tried to
murder her and John, only this time judi
cially, and then abduct her afterward.
Bessie was the only price that he was pre-
pared to take in exchange for her uncle's
life. But it was impossible to allow Bessie to
be SO sacrificed: the thought was horrible to
her.
How, then, was it to be prevented! She
thought again of going down and confronting
Frank Muller, and openly accusing him of her
attempted murder, only, however, to dimiss
the idea. Who would believe her! and i. they
did believe, what good would il dol She
would only be imprisoned and kept out of
harms way, or possibly murdered without
further ado. Then she thought of attempting
to communicate with her uncle and Bessie, to
tell them that John was, so far as she knew,
alive, only to recognize the impossibility of
doing SO now that the sentry was back. Be-
sides, what object could be served! The
knowledge that John was alive might, it is
true, nerve up Bessie to resist Muller, but
then the sole result would he that the old man
would be shot. Dismissing this from her
mind, she began to consider whether they
could obtain assistance. Alas it was i'm
possible. The only people from whom she
could hope for help would be the natives, and
now that the Beers had triumphed over the
English for this much she had gathered from
her captors and from Jantjel, it was very
doubtful if they would dare to help her. Be-
sides, at the best, it would take twenty four
hours to collect force, and that would be too
late. The thing was hopeless. Nowhere
could she see ray of light
"What," she said aloud to herself, "what is
there in the world that will stop man like
Frank Muller!"
And then all of all instant the answer rose
up in her brain as though through an inspira-
ton:
DEATH"
To be- ConfInued-